Man who mocked beaten cop now charged in mom's killing

By Carol Robinson | crobinson@al.com The Birmingham News

Birmingham, AL

series A 23-year-old Hoover man charged Monday in the weekend shotgun shooting death of his mother is no stranger to law enforcement officers.

Devarta Dedre Thomas, an aspiring rapper, had been arrested on crimes ranging from burglary to robbery, and just months ago stirred the ire of cops throughout the Birmingham area when he posted graphic photos on social media over the summer, mocking a Birmingham police detective after he had been pistol-whipped.

In fact, investigators say, his mother, Tawanda Denise Thomas, was killed Sunday afternoon while scolding him about his lifestyle and choices and actions. "Mrs. Thomas actually came to her son's apartment to lecture him about 'doing right,'' said Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector. "She wanted him to get a job, stop using drugs and stop hanging out with some of the individuals he was hanging out with."

"Basically," Rector said, "a mom lost her life while trying to convince her son to live a better, more productive life."

Hoover police were dispatched to Alpine Village Apartments on Lorna Road just before 3 p.m. Sunday after they received a hang-up 911 call. When they arrived at the apartment, they found the 40-year-old mother inside suffering from a gunshot wound.

Tawanda Thomas was taken to UAB Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 3:45 p.m. Rector said Devarta Thomas was taken into custody for questioning. Investigators learned that a family argument escalated, and the woman was shot.

The son was being held in the Hoover City Jail Monday afternoon, and police said in a release that he would be transported to the Jefferson County Jail where his bond would be set at $250,000.

In August, Devarta Thomas sparked outrage among area law enforcement officers when he was one a few people who posted photos of a bleeding Birmingham Detective Johnny Brooks after he had collapsed from a pistol-whipping with his own service weapon at the hands of a suspect.

Not long after the attack, photos began to surface on social media showing the detective lying face down on the pavement. Another photo showed him bloody and kneeling, but awake. In some cases on Facebook, the photos were accompanied by words of support for whoever beat the detective. Devarta Thomas, who goes by the Facebook name Tae T Thomas, wrote this caption along with one of the photos: "Pistol-whipped his (expletive) to sleep." The statement was followed by a string of laughing emojis.

Officers were angry that any photos were shown at all, but even more so that there were some who mocked the incident. "He was laying there lifeless and people were standing around taking pictures,'' said Birmingham police Sgt. Heath Boackle, president of the Fraternal Order of Police. "If the tables were turned, and that was a suspect lying there, they would be rioting."

Devarta Thomas was arrested several times, but never convicted of any crimes. When he lived with his mother at their Birchwood Street home, he was arrested by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in 2012 when authorities say stole three televisions, two pair of shoes, $1,000 in jewelry and a PlayStation from another man. He was indicted on a first-degree theft of property charge, and was denied youthful offender in the case, court records show. The charges against him were dropped in 2013 when prosecutors say the victim wouldn't show up for court.

Birmingham police also arrested Devarta Thomas in 2012. Police say he was armed when he robbed a different victim of undisclosed items. The first-degree robbery charge against him was also dismissed.

Though court records don't indicate any criminal charges against Devarta Thomas since 2012, his mother clearly still wanted more for her son. "She was voicing those concerns to him when he retrieved a shotgun,'' Rector said. "The argument had clearly escalated, but it's just insane that he thought he needed to introduce a gun into a verbal argument."

"This is just a horrible tragedy and unimaginable to see a family dispute handled in such a manner,'' Rector said. "What will it take for people to comprehend that disputes can be resolved without violence?"

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